The Dunlop Sonic Core Elite 135 was first released in 2020, and then an updated version was released in 2022. It replaced the Precision Elite in Dunlop’s range.
2022 Model
Here is the 2022 version of the Dunlop Sonic Core Elite 135:
Product Info
Release year: 2022
Price: $230 US | €140 EU
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Buy (Canada): controlthet.com
Buy (France): dlsports.eu
Buy (Germany): dlsports.eu
Buy (Netherlands): dlsports.eu
Buy (UK): squashituk.co.uk
Buy (US): squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 135 grams
Head size: 500 cm sq
String pattern: 14x18
Measured weight (all-in): 163.5 grams
Measured balance: 35.5 cm
Factory strings: Dunlop Iconic Pro AF Black 17 Gauge
Sonic Core Elite 2022 Review and Transcript
In this video I’m gonna have a hit with the Dunlop Sonic Core Elite 135. This is a 2022 racket from Dunlop. I’m gonna come back afterwards and tell you what I think about it.
The Sonic Core Elite came out in 2022 along with Dunlop’s other Sonic Core models. It has a traditional head shape and pretty thin beam which is handy for scraping balls off the walls and out of tight spaces and gives you a lot of control.
14 by 18 stringing pattern, which is relatively open, good for kind of getting a bit of extra cut on the ball and also a bit of extra head speed.
Overall I would class this as a very much a control-oriented racket. With the thinner beam it doesn’t give you quite as much power, it’s more about precision.
I found it very good going into the front but had a little more difficulty generating power out of the back.
This model is pretty similar to the previous iteration of the Elite. Some cosmetic updates as well as some slight materials changes but pretty much feels the same if you’re used to how the Elite played before.
2020 Model
Here’s the 2020 version. This was just called the Dunlop Sonic Core Elite 135.
Product Info
Release year: 2020
Price: $170 (US)
Affiliate Links
Squash Source receives a commission when you buy through these links. Thanks!
Buy (Canada): controlthet.com | racquetguys.ca | racquet-science.com
Buy (France): dlsports.eu
Buy (Germany): decathlon.de | dlsports.eu
Buy (Netherlands): dlsports.eu
Buy (UK): squashituk.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com | holabirdsports.com | racquetguys.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 135 grams
Head size: 500 cm sq
String pattern: 14x18
Measured weight (all-in): 162 grams
Measured balance: 37 cm (55% in the head)
Factory strings: Dunlop Silk 17 Gauge (Black)
Reviews
Here’s my review. This was my favorite of the Sonic Core rackets and I’m not totally sure why. I liked the head-heavy feel.
Dunlop Sonic Core Elite 135 Review Transcript
I have a review today of the dunlop sonic core elite 135. this came out in 2020 this is one of their traditional head shapes i’ve already reviewed the pro 130 the ultimate and the elite the difference is that the pro 130 has a smaller head size than the ultimate and the elite the elite and ultimate have the same head size and the difference between these two is really just the stringing pattern the elite is what is it again 14 by 18 so it’s got fewer strings than the ultimate which is 16 by 19 i think stats this is 135 gram racket on my scale all in with grip strings and everything 162 grams and the balance point on the beam is 37 centimeters so i would call that head heavy and using the kind of percentage method i think about 55 percent of the weight of this racket is in the head
I will show you some cosmetics and then tell you how i liked it so as usual it’s the green model from dunlop they always have the elites always the green one they’ve got the oh i don’t have the marketing card today big mistake i think this is the gaultier racket this is one of their dunlop’s long running models of course as far as how it played i was expecting not to like this one as much as the others because the last time a few years ago when i tried these this was probably my least favorite of the bunch they’re all great rackets but this was like you know on the margins this was kind of my least favorite this time around this was my favorite of the bunch and i’m not sure if it’s because i played with it most recently or what but everything was going well with this racquet just good control good power everything was tight
I was even running better with this racket moving better i mean i don’t know everything was working so i had i fell in love with this guy i am going to show you some gameplay if you would like to see this baby in action and i will see you in the next video thanks all right let’s do a little gameplay this is game three between myself and richard i can’t remember if it’s one all or not but i remember thinking i played pretty well this game so let’s see oop tough error there
I think I just went for broke there he was in front of me that’s kind of uh it’s pretty risky a little loose for me and then it puts a nice shot in the front left there you go his was short and I just stuck it in there that’s that hard drop that I like it just it looks like I could hit a deep I’m bad at disguising my drop but if I hit it harder it looks like I’m going to hit and because I take my racket back otherwise like that all right well that was the dunlop sonicore elite in action
Kevin says
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My friend has this racquet and I gave it a try. I have the older black and green Biomimetic version from many years ago, and I liked that one; still play it in fact. This new Sonic Core version feels very head heavy to me, which made it difficult to play. Volleying with it felt like I was swinging a 2×4. Regarding feel, it felt muted. For the older versions of the Elite, you could feel the racquet almost vibrate when hitting the ball, which I got used to and didn’t mind. This racquet didn’t have that feel. Overall, this racquet wasn’t for me.